Public education is the great equalizer, opening doors of opportunity to all children regardless of income or background, preparing them for citizenship, work, and life. K-12 public schools serve 90% of the nation’s students, playing a central role in shaping communities and America’s future. Yet despite the pivotal role it plays in American society, public education is facing enormous strain and profound challenges: proposals to eliminate bedrock federal education programs that serve millions of students across the country; student outcomes that have yet to recover from the pandemic; persistent educator and mental health professional shortages; and inadequate, inequitable funding systems that impede opportunities for our most vulnerable students.
The Learning First Alliance (LFA), a coalition of executives from leading K-12 non-profit education organizations representing 10 million members, believes that America’s public schools are investments in our shared future with benefits that extend far beyond the school walls: stronger communities, increased economic mobility, and incalculable long-term social and economic gains.
At this challenging moment for public education, LFA brought together practitioners, stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to highlight how efforts to undermine public education are impacting the field and hindering educators’ ability to reach and serve students. The event elevated promising research and practices and included a discussion on what’s needed to build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient public education system.
Video Highlights from “Building What’s Next: A Stronger, Fairer, and More Resilient Public Education System”
Jessica Cardichon, Chief of Strategic Impact at the Learning Policy Institute emphasized the role public schools play in civic engagement and preparing students to be good citizens, collaborators, and community members, as well as the importance of the human connection in learning.
“Behind every funding stream is a real child,” said Nikki Woodward, VP, Maryland State Education Association. “When schools are fully funded, staffed, and supported, they become places where opportunity is not rationed but shared.”
Abbie shared how her McKinney-Vento liaison and a community program helped her find stability and finish her senior year of high school. Without that support, she’s not sure it would have been possible. For many students, school is more than a place to learn – it’s a safe space that connects students with vital resources.
The Convening was Hosted by the LFA Member Organizations
